The Scottish Football Thread
 

There is a meeting of the SFA taking place tomorrow to find out if either Dundee or Dunfermline will take the old Rangers place in the SPL. Many SFL chairmen, and Scottish press, expect another twist in the tail.

If this season doesn't begin with Rangers in the 3rd division, the SFA and Scottish football will forever lose all integrity. Noticed another scare story on the front of The Sunday Mail this morning suggesting 5 SPL clubs will be bust within 6 weeks if Rangers start in the 3rd division. I'm pretty sure the SPL chairmen of these clubs knew the risks when they voted no to Rangers. Sporting integrity must be upheald at all costs.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Here is a copy of Stewart Regans e-mail, dated 23rd June 2012, sent to Scottish Premier League chief exec Neil Doncaster; Scottish Football League boss David Longmuir, SFL President Jim Ballantyne, SFA vice-president Alan McRae, Hibernian FC chief exec Rod Petrie and SPL chairman Ralph Topping.

”Dear all,

Many thanks for your contribution and support over the last two weeks in trying to deliver a programme of change that will move Scottish football forward whilst addressing the need to deal with the Rangers matter with integrity and in line with our own values as an organisation.

I was hugely encouraged with where we got to last night on a long and tiring phone call and I thank all of you for your efforts to move this issue forward.

I thought it would be helpful if I summarised where I think we are:

1. The Rangers Football Club will be relegated to the 1st Division of the SFL with immediate effect and will be replaced in the SPL by Dundee FC.

2. The television rights for Rangers FC matches in the SFL will be purchased by the SPL for the sum of £1m as a one-off fee for the season 2012/2013.

3. The two leagues will merge into a single league body – The Scottish Professional Football League – effective season 2013/14 – with a working party set up immediately involving representatives from the SPL, SFL and (if required) the Scottish FA to plan the integration of the two bodies – people, rules, rebranding, commercial considerations and so on.

4. A new Board of Directors will be appointed to govern the single league. The make up of this Board will consist of an Independent Chairman, CEO, 3 representatives from the Premier League, 2 representatives from the Championship/Leagues 1 & 2 and 2 Independent Non-Executive Directors.

5. Play-offs will be introduced immediately with the first matches taking place at the end of the coming season 2012/2013.

6. Enhanced parachute payments will be implemented from the end of the season 2012/2013 to soften the landing for club(s) relegated from the Premier League.

7. A revised all-through distribution model will be put in place to provide: a) An all-through distribution model for clubs 1-22 and a minimum guarantee for 20 clubs in Leagues 1 & 2, equivalent to what they would earn under the current settlement agreement.

8. A Pyramid System will be put in place which open up the bottom of League 2 effective from the end of season 2013/2014 with the first opportunity for promoted clubs to enter the league being 2014/15 thus allowing for licensing to take place.

9. Consolidation below the Third Division to take place to create a Lowland & Highland League structure effective 2014/15 with appropriate play-offs and promotion/relegation to be put in place. Clubs to be briefed that the previous season 2013/2014 will involve the opportunity to enter play-offs for the first time.

In terms of actions/timings I think the following needs to happen in this coming week:

A) A joint statement today from all 3 bodies confirming that productive discussions have taken place on a new blueprint for Scottish football. Consultation will continue over the next two weeks with a view to clubs getting together week commencing 2nd July to try and agree the way forward. (D Broadfoot to provide this and circulate to DL/ND for approval)

B) Rod P / Jim B to finalise the all-through financial model by Wednesday this week latest.

C) Neil / David to finalise the detail on Governance, Commercials and Play-Offs (ideally Monday/Tuesday) and incorporate these, plus the financials in B) above into a legally binding Heads of Terms ‘draft’ for presentation to each league body w/c 2nd July.

D) DL to organise SFL Board Meeting w/c 25th June to gain buy-in to the plan and also arrange an all club meeting w/c 2nd July

E) ND to gain support from SPL Clubs 28th June

F) SFL Clubs Meeting to be planned for 3rd July

G) SPL Club Meeting to be planned for 4th July

H) Scottish FA Board to sign off on the final plan post 4th July. Subject to approval all bodies (including Newco) to sign legal documentation.

I) Agree joint communication strategy

J) In parallel to A-D above, could Rod Petrie please brief Charles Green confidentially on the discussions from a Scottish FA perspective so that there are ‘no surprises’ and there is a general acceptance of the plan plus all of the other conditions discussed e.g. transfer embargo, fines, repayment of football debt, waiving rights to legal challenge, acceptance of relegation and so on.

K) Andrew to ensure our check list of disclosures relating to Newco and Fit & Proper Person criteria are delivered by 2nd july. The Board will need these plus the Heads of Terms above in order to complete this plan.

The Scottish FA Board have agreed to provide a one-off restructuring budget of £1m on condition the above plan is delivered.

I hope this covers everything.

Speak soon….now off to the airport!

Regards

Stewart”

This totally smacks of corruption.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

ESPN may bid for SFL rights.

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scot...#ixzz20iBJjC31

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Thanks media boy
"
If Sky do decide to pull out, it’s understood the league will look to resurrect plans to launch their own TV channel.
"
I wouldn't take that channel...I only watch scottish football because it is on ESPN or sky..but get both of those channels because of EPL among other reasons

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

How can the SPL do that if ESPN are still commited to their current 30 game a season deal? SPL TV would need to broadcast about 60 games a season, on top of the 30 ESPN, to be a success. All that will do however is encourage more Scottish fans to stay at home to watch the action rather than going to the game.

If there was zero live SPL games on TV, and all SPL games kicked-off at 3pm on a Saturday, would the fans return to the games in their thousands? It's the lack of bums on seats that is killing the Scottish game. If SPL teams charged £10.00 per game, cash at the gates, and re-introduced the sensible sale of beer at the grounds Scottish football could have a chance.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Rangers don't have a license to play , so its not all sorted at all.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

The first competitive match played by Charles Green’s new-look Rangers – the Ramsdens Cup tie against Brechin City at Glebe Park – will be televised live by BBC Alba.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/footbal...6908-23910037/

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Will red button pick this up in rest of UK :confused:

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Surely you aren't suggesting the hopelessly inept SFA and Reagan would bar Rangers from playing as payback for making them look stupid in the courts? :erm:

That's the next part of this saga, Rangers have to accept the punishments that were ruled unlawful and have to give up the right to appeal to any other punishments for real or imagined crimes yet to be decided and if they don't they'll be suspended for a year until the SFA can fiddle the leagues to get Rangers back in the top flight. :mad:

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Talks are ongoing about TV deals for the SFL and SPL.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18891279

SPL still in talks with ESPN/Sky. I hope that the SFL deal is with a company that is in the Virgin TV lineup.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

The plan was to have Rangers out of the SPL for a year.

I can see Rangers suspended for 12 months then re admitted back to the SPL next year.

Scottish Football will resemble the League Of Wales if Rangers have to spend 3 years out of the top flight.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Well if they don't let Newco play then it will still be Airdrie, Stranraer with a new club being invited into League 3.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Seconded.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

The Rangers situation is slowly being sorted out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18929983

Rangers will have until September to assemble a squad and will have a one year transfer embargo imposed after that.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

The Scottish Sun are reporting bids for SFL Rangers TV deal are to be in for Monday

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scot...n-the-way.html

It's the kind of oppertunity Premier Sports will be looking at. Virgin have a strong customer base in the central belt of Scotland, which is where most Rangers fans are from. Rangers fans with Virgin will not be happy if the broadcast rights go to a channel they can't access.

Premier Sports already broadcast Rangers and Celtic TV. In recent years they've picked up Rangers and Celtics Euro qualifiers plus pre-season friendlies. Their dedication to Conference football down in England will show the SFL they have a real interest in lower league football and have a track record of covering it.

Don't rule Premier Sports out. This is the kind of deal that could help them get onto Virgin. It wouldn't take long for Virgin to be bombarded by requests from Rangers fans to add the channel. Would Virgin react to between 20,000 to 40,000 requests for the channel to be added?

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

The Scottish Football League are reportedly looking for bids in the region of £1,000,000 for the 25 game package. That's £40,000 per game. Premier Sports would only need to add about 6000 new subscribers to cover this. Personally, as a Rangers fan, I hope the rights go to either the BBC or ESPN. If they do, I will be cancelling SKY Sports.

The only football I watch on SKY is Rangers and Scotland games. Scotland away fixtures for the next 2 years are on the BBC. The Scottish League Cup is on the BBC. The Scottish Cup is on both the BBC and SKY. Plus there is plenty more live football on ESPN and ITV and good old Match of the Day on the BBC.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

It is still going on!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18929983

The SPL want further sanctions on Rangers and a share of Rangers Division 3 media rights. When is enough enough?

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

You want the media rights then you have Rangers in the SPL. If Rangers aren't there they should never just hand you wads of cash to keep your insolvent clubs alive.

The rest of the SPL can go and take a running jump. I'd already think the blackmail to accept the transfer embargo was coming close to contempt of court and now they've realised the golden goose is about to die and they want to squeeze the last few eggs from it.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Rangers don't have to agree...they can just fold

They are merely getting what is due.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Why on earth should SPL clubs get any money from a team that plays 3 divisions below them?

They did not want Rangers for reasons of 'sporting integrity' but are willing to hold them to ransom in order to get cash, where is the integrity in that?

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

How on Earth can the SPL justify trying to get a piece of SFL broadcast rights? That's totally unfair on the other 9 clubs in Divison 3.

The SPL need to get their own TV deals sorted out first before worrying about what other leagues are doing in Scottish football. Still no news on what is happening with the SKY deal, still no news on the ESPN deal, still no news on radio and international broadcast rights. Meetings have taken place but all remains silent.

Fans of SPL clubs should be worried if trying to snatch Division 3 TV money is the SPL's solution to potential drops in broadcast revenue.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

It could be that they want the money due to the SPL members..rangers left a lot of football debts, even if you don't count the money due to the taxpayer that they stole

I think they are also due money to european clubs too

Football never forgets debts...only people that lose, are the taxpayer (and companies who supplied services to rangers and weren't paid)

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Part of the sanctions appears to be that all the previous footballing debts are transferred to the newco so other teams are not going to be out of pocket.

Stole? I didn't see the first team in balaclavas taking out a security van. :rolleyes:

Yes, Craig Whyte refused to pay NI and PAYE and that is currently being investigated. The use of EBT's was not illegal and was declared in the annual accounts when they were being used.

---------- Post added at 14:24 ---------- Previous post was at 14:19 ----------

What else do you think should happen to them? Do you think further sanctions are proportionate for the alleged crimes?

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

It was clarified on BBC Scotlands Off The Ball programme that all prize money due to Rangers for last year, such as finishing second in the league, has been withheld. This money will be used to pay debts due to Scottish football teams. Newco have agreed to cover any shortfalls that remain.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Rangers were owed more cash in "football debts" than they owed.

craig whyte misappropriated the income to the football off his own back not in consort with other employees at the club.

<removed>

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Rangers were stealing taxpayer money for years..fact. They used an illegal scheme, illegal because it was deliberately being used to supplement salaries..fact

Using that method, they were able to afford better players..fact
<removed>

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Not being a Rangers fan, but l think they have been hit hard enough, for something that was not of its own making - it was carried out by the greed of directors.

The only people that will make money out of this and good luck to them, is the clubs that are in there div.

Its about time the SFA and SPL forgot about any further sanctions on the club and got on with business - and thats playing football.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Actually wrong. EBT's are legal, but not to supplement wages..which rangers did, that is illegal.

Rangers were also using double contracts, equally against the SPL rules

Rangers are being punished, for multiple crimes...not just one..that is the shocking thing

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Oh dear. I know things have got a little personal over the past few posts however as a Rangers fan I am both disgusted and offended by your discriminative comments. Yes Scottish football does have a problem with bigotry, especially in Glasgow, but such a sweeping statement about a section of support is totally unacceptable. I also don't know why you've introduced such an ugly subject to this thread.

Re: ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)
 

Sorry, I thought the old firm were supported on religious beliefs. Hence the songs they sing at games. Songs that only recently football authorities have banned because they are sectarian, and illegal.

I'm at a loss as to why not having the old firm playing is a bad thing. The amount of domestic violence in glasgow rises every weekend they play. Violence in the city increases. I don't see that as a good thing to be missed.

---------- Post added at 20:13 ---------- Previous post was at 20:10 ----------

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18938991
BBC Scotland has seen evidence that suggests 53 Rangers players and staff had side-letters giving undertakings to fund their EBTs with cash .

Illegal.

Rangers are not being punished for one offence, but multiple offences.

They went into administration, and got the 10 point penalty.

They then went into liquidation, and they are being punished for double contracts

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

CMON THE WELL!!!

Just sayin' :)

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

lol..what brings this on. Europe?..hope for top two again?

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Sounds like the stumbling block over SFA approving Rangers playing this season is a disagreement between the SPL and SFL over TV contracts.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...=feeds-newsxml

It seems the SPL need Rangers division 3 matches in their package to get decent money from their TV contract. The SFL want their own deal.

Hope this is sorted out as it would be fun watching Rangers finding their way back. The sectarian stuff goes way over my head.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

The SPL clubs are now faced with the cold, hard, financial consequences of booting Rangers out of the league and are trying to both have their cake and eat it. I'm really not a follower of Scottish football but from where I'm sitting, the SPL's demand seems outrageous - an indefensible piece of blackmail.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

TV figures for Scottish football are doing the rounds on various Scottish football forums. Not sure of the original source unfortunately.

Rangers v Peterhead 166,000 (BBC Alba)
Berwick v Rangers 96,000
Celtic v Aberdeen 91,000
Dundee v Dundee Utd 75,000
Ross County v Celtic 70,000
Inverness v Celtic 67,000
Hibs v Hearts 25,000
Dundee Utd v Hibs 16,000

If these figures are accurate Scottish football is in a terrible state. As the season goes on, and Celtic dominate the league, these figures will sadly drop further and further as TV fans lose interest.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

I'm confused. What was tv audience last year?

Scottish football is in the state it is, not because of rangers, but because having a 10 team leagues was detrimental to scottish football.

Equally, celtic and rangers constant eagerness to leave scottish football over the years (despite no viable opportunities to do so) equally did not help.

Finally, trying to compete in spending with a team who preferred to use tax payers money to fund buying (ie rangers) also did not help.

To say that scottish football is in dire straits because of rangers going down to third division is a fallacy

Scottish Football has been this way for a long while.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

At the moment Scottish football is run by Celtic, you might as well give them the title on the first day of the season, as to me they get away with murder and the referees are scared stiff of them.

Have you noticed that Celtic win matches in the last five minutes of games ?

I think the good thing is that with Rangers being in the lower tier of football - the small clubs will get that extra revenue. I wonder what will happen when Rangers get back into the SPL, which will take two years, probably the SFL will take out another court order stopping them playing in the top tier, sorry Scottish football is finished.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

My Dad was a massive Celtic fan so in theory i am as well and in no means is this an attack on the bhoys, but let me tell you this current Celtic team is not that great and seems to be very complacent, now is the time for someone like Dundee United to start to challenge for the title. C'mon Scottish football, lets be having you.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Oh really? :rolleyes:

How? They used a tax-avoidance strategy that was legal at the time and all their payments to players were announced in their annual accounts, unlike another side I could mention.

If the SFA are so convinced they breached the rules with contract payments then why did they not query it when the annual accounts showed higher payments than the contracts?

Although if you start asking that question you then have to ask why they didn't investigate Craig Whyte when there was mounting evidence he was a crook and why the SFA cannot afford to give cash to clubs when they are already withholding £2,000,000 of prize money that should have gone to Rangers for finishing 2nd last year.

You might even suggest that they are insolvent if even after getting a £2 mil windfall they can't pay their bills on time... :dozey:

---------- Post added at 22:57 ---------- Previous post was at 22:45 ----------

That's nothing, have a look at the actual attendance figures. Most of the teams combined are lucky to get anywhere near an SFL3 game. :D

Still they don't need Rangers, once the big bad gers got punted down the leagues the fans were going to come back in their droves. :rolleyes:

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

No. An interesting slant that ignores the actual facts of the case.

The EBT scheme was legal. The way that David Murray chose to run it was illegal. He continued to misuse the scheme after he was advised not to.
An EBT could not be used for any contractual payment. Rangers used this extensively thereby turning a tax avoidance scheme into tax evasion.

I'm not sure that the SFA can be held responsible when they weren't privy to the full picture. They were informed of the contracts and were informed of the monies paid into an EBT scheme. They were not informed that the money paid by EBT was part of a separate contract or side letter.

The club that finished second in the SPL are currently undergoing the final stages of liquidation. Any monies due to them should be going to the creditors pot. I'm sure once BDO move in they might have a similar view. I suspect the SPL are aware of this which is why they're not splashing cash that may not be theirs.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

What he says :).

No point in saying EBT are legal as justification, as that isn't and never was the issue. Using EBT illegally is the issue, and that is what Rangers did. A deliberate act to evade tax. An act that was stated by HMRC as being illegal.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

So when are any of the old Rangers management and board up in court if they are guilty of tax evasion?

---------- Post added at 08:57 ---------- Previous post was at 08:49 ----------

The money was waived on the understanding that the SPL cover the outstanding footballing debts, Rangers have signed statements to that effect. When the new holding company took Rangers membership and agreed to take the debts the SPL went back and started to claim that they were responsible for the debts. I believe they backed down when it was made clear they could get another kicking in court and make FIFA even more angry.

The 2 mil is floating about, I wouldn't be surprised if its being used to fund the totally impartial :rolleyes: investigation into Rangers. Harper McLeod aren't coming cheap.

It is nice how, out of all the law firms in Scotland, they appointed the same one used by Celtic and whose major partner is often seen at Parkhead, no conflict of interest there at all.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Most cases of tax evasion and attempted tax evastion don't lead to criminal charges. The owners of The old Rangers were found guilty of tax evasion by virtue of the fact that they were hit with tax bills.

Although they are appealing the big tax decision, they didn't appeal against the guilty decision in what is known as the wee tax case.

The investigation by the BDO hasn't even started yet so don't discount criminal prosecutions yet. These things take time and the BDO will follow every available paper trail.

It's almost laughable that there is a suggestion that this new tribute club were in anyway entitled to any prize money from the old club, but has no responsibility for the money stolen from every man, woman and chld in this country. :(

It saddens me that there is still a large body of Rangers fans who seem intent on trying to deflect attention of the wrongdoings of the old club by sullying the name of perfectably respectable individuals and firms. There is no conflict of interest. The law society itself says so and surely you won't suggest that they are a body loaded with Celtic sympathisers.

Deflect and blame others is still the order of the day and instead of actually trying to start afresh with this new club, they're letting a yorkshire barra boy pick their pockets. Hated one week, plays the bigot card, and the season ticket sales go through the roof. Do you think he's in it for the love of the club? :rolleyes:

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

The investigation into the alleged use of dual contracts by the old Rangers starts next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19521501

I don't think the qualifications or independence of that panel can be seriously questioned by fans of Rangers/Sevco.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Oops. Looks like the SFA/SPL attempt to steal some trophies has hit a few snags with the leaking of the proposed punishments before anyone had been found guilty or any independent panel proposed.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz27FDUquJl

In other news it looks like the halloween party at Parkhead started early with most of the fans dressed like this. Official attendance 41,000...
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2012/09/12.jpg :D
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2012/09/11.jpg

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

The Sun is such a reliable source of truth when it suits your own agenda. This is hardly news. It's contents have been known about for quite a while and the whole story can be summed up in one sentence.

"Chucky Green has shares to sell"

The "without prejudice" draft document became an irrelvence as soon as the attempt to have Chucky's team shoehorned into Div 1 failed.

I thought the concepts proposed in the document would be familiar to somebody in your line of work ;) Is it any different than being offered a fixed fine penalty (or whatever it's called). You pay up or you take your chance in at a later day and may have a greater penalty/punishment imposed.

... the only difference in this case was that no punishment was to be imposed. Rangers/The Rangers/Sevco were only asked to accept the consequences of their wrongdoing.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

I love this thread. It's vastly more entertaining than any actual Scottish football.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Certainly anything in the SPHell...

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

The standards of the Sun reporting are spreading to the honesty of your posting.... so to fill in the blanks and allow CFers to have the the complete story

The picture Derek has chose to show you is the part of the ground that would be occupied by Rangers supporters if they had still been part of the SPL. Season tickets for those seats therefore exclude "matches involving Rangers or their replacement". The replacement club is Dundee as featured in this match.

Did you know? ;), despite all the claims of world records for 4th tier matches, more people have attended Celtic Matches than Rangers this season. This is despite the higher prices required to attend football matches in the top tier and European football.

I do find it kind of sad that even at this stage Rangers fans are looking to blame everybody else for their problems rather than take the opportunity to start afresh and save their own club. They'll blame Celtic and some other clubs?, SFA, SPL, HMRC and journalists when all the time the problems stemmed from within Ibrox.... and it's still happening.

---------- Post added at 17:07 ---------- Previous post was at 17:06 ----------

Seen much SPL football this year Deek? :D

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

I forgot the management ripped off their fans by not refunding the higher costs of season tickets bought by fans when they thought they might get to see two games a year featuring the mighty Glasgow Rangers. :D
Even if the rest of the stadium is full 41k for a Saturday afternoon game not on TV is laughable.

Still starting with 48,251 'fans' for the season opener (even though curiously only 41,250 came through the gates, surely making up for the Kelly years when the taxman was diddled out of revenue by massive under-reporting of income) and dropping to 41,073 shows just how faithful TGFITW are. :D

Not much, not really a fan of dull, pointless matches.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

I heard a great joke the other day. (FYI My grandad was a massive Ranger fan, and I support them in his memory)

"I can't wait to see Rangers in 3D... Sorry D3":D

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

You're spending far too much energy looking at others rather than what's happening at Ibrox. It's really no wonder your club is being pickpocketed by another barra boy.

To put you right... again.... Season tickets were sold on matches against Rangers or their replacement.This was clearly stipulated. Not one season ticket was sold on any other basis. No rip off invoved. The majority of season tickets weren't renewed until it was clear that the new Rangers wouldn't be allowed back into the SPL. This was the case for all SPL clubs. The cheating wasn't to be rewarded.

The SPL and the SFA did everything it could to let you back into the SPL. It was football fans with understanding of the cheating you got away with that didn't, and still don't, want you.

If you want to see dishonesty from management, have a wee look in your own backyard. Some of Chucky's statements are comedy gold.... 3 billionaires, 6 players from the Euros, 45000 at Ibrox on Saturday:D........still he's happy as long as you keep funding his escape plan:D

You'll find a table of Europe's top attended football stadium here:

http://stadiumdb.com/news/2012/09/10...s_2012_edition

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Hmmm, from last year, when Rangers were in the league.

So this year so far Rangers have remained pretty static fan wise whereas almost 10,000 of TGFITW were only ever going to snake mountain to see the Rangers. :D

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

I suspect your abacus requires new batteries ;)

It is hard on the pocket following Glasgow's only SPL club. Trips to Moscow, Lisbon and Barcelona tend to hit the resources more than trips to Peterhead, Annan and Elgin. Probably not as time consuming though ;)

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Nice to see the SPL leaders given a hiding by 3rd division minnows Rangers tonight. :D

More fans in Ibrox than in 6 league cup games combined last night. Thats with the game live on TV as well.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Enjoy your next game against Forres Mechanics (capacity 1,476)....:D

tbf, it's really good that the second-best team in the Third Division beat the best team in the Premier.....

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

World record for a 4th tier team beating the leaders of the top league probably.:rolleyes:

How envious other teams must be :erm:

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Omg someone has something to try and prove to the rest of us?

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Crime pays?:D

It's actually quite an astute lesson in business acumen by Chucky Green.
He's got the fans of the former Rangers onboard by playing the bigot card, the "everybody hates us card" and the "but others have done worse" lies.

The gullible ones seem to have a truth dyslexia and would rather hang onto the words that reaffirm in their puggled brains that they are the people. Totally deluded.

They don't see the irony that they were celebrating a victory in the 3rd round of the Communities Cup against a team that has a quarter of their wage bill.

Their boast of the crowds are laughable (quite a few complimentary tickets being handed out for home league matches apparently). Somebody on another site compared it to Primark boasting about their footfall compared to that of Harrods. :D

Meanwhile the rest of the country can see Chucky for what he is and he's filling his swag bag with the blue pound.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

I hope Rangers do well in this cup - Hoping to see an Celtic V Rangers game in next round or Final.

We got Celtic on Saturday :banghead:

(Motherwell fan)

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Motherwell are worth a bet on Saturday. The players had a good rest tonight. :D

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

I see that Sky and ESPN think Celtic will win.

Sky - no game
ESPN - Aberdeen VS Hibs.
BBC Alba - Motherwell VS Celtic - Kick off 3pm (Shown as Live at 5.30pm)

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

I think this was originally pencilled in as a Sunday kick off on Sky but Celtic's match in Moscow on Tuesday scuppered it as ESPN already had the Saturday game.

Edit; I haven't checked if this is accurate but somebody posted that this is Celtic's first 3pm away kick for 8 years! i'm sure I must have misheard!

Anyhoo the whole game is on BBC Alba at 5.30 on Saturday evening.

Edit: Twas Radio Scotland's Richard Gordon that claimed Celtic's last 3pm away quick off was Oct 2005 agains Livingston. I was obviously exagerating saying it was 8 years :D

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Just that Rangers are better supported than other teams. :)

Strange. I've heard the same about free tickets being handed out for a certain stadium in the east end of Glasgow to charities and youth groups in an attempt to bolster crowds.
Still you can't blame people for preferring to go to a marvellous listed building and take in its history and brilliance over some breeze block monstrosity that's lucky Glasgow city council are chucking money at it to tart it up for 2014 before it falls down. ;)

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Great support.:rolleyes: How well did that fighting fund do? :D Not even as much as Northern Rugby Clubs can raise. They don't have the mythical worldwide fan base.

How successfull have previous share issues been?

How may shares will fans owe in the club once Chucky's escape plan has been funded? I already know the answer, do you?;)

Is this what Rangers are reduced to? Boasting about the front of their stadium while forgetting about the rest of the asbestos ridden bigot dome that requires millions spent on it.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

It's all going well in the SPHell....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19970984

And just coming out the woodwork now is this.

Whatever happened to transparency? How poor is the journalism in Scotland that it takes a month to report on transfer bans being imposed.

I also hear Motherwell are in severe trouble with the manager buying water for training sessions out his own pocket each week and players being asked to take very significant wage cuts.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

For somebody who has no interest in the SPL you seem to revel in any potential negative events. ;) Not that you would be hoping for any clubs to go into administration....?

For your own peace of mind Deek, I can assure that there is no way that any current SPL club will go into liquidation owing us much as the ex-Rangers. That's your own wee world record that your club took to it's grave. ;) Pity they're deid or we could have put a wee star on their shirt for that.

On a more positive note, I've registered a £50K interest in purchasing shares in this new Glasgow Club fronted by Chucky Green. Are you in Deek? :D

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

:D Their own delusion and sense of entitlement is what brought them down before. Looks like the zombies are well on their way to doing it again. :)

Barca on Tuesday ;)

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

It is the Scottish football thread, not an SPL thread or SFL 1/2/3 thread. I would have thought a news item about one of the bigger clubs not being able to pay players (again) would have been of interest to some and them being hit with a punishment that was kept secret showed just how desperate and untransparent the SPHell are.

---------- Post added at 09:29 ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 ----------

Don't worry, I'm sure that will see a return to form for celtic in away European games. What is it? 4 points from a possible 63?

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

... shocking record isn't it? We'd probably have more away points in the CL than that if we'd cheated over the years though;)

Celtic have still had more away wins in Europe this season than The Sevco have had in SFL 3. :D

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

[QUOTE=Derek;35486267]It is the Scottish football thread, not an SPL thread or SFL 1/2/3 thread. I would have thought a news item about one of the bigger clubs not being able to pay players (again) would have been of interest to some and them being hit with a punishment that was kept secret showed just how desperate and untransparent the SPHell are.[COLOR="Silver"]

---------- Post added at 09:29 ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 ----------
Not sure about being kept secret.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Tick tock tick tock tick tock BOOM!! Big Tax Case result GUILTY!!!

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Any link to back this up? Or is it another 'exclusive' from he failed social worker and pensioner killer?

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

I hope you've had a saucer of milk and finished cleaning your fur since that post Deek ;)

To be pedantic; the guilty verdict in the big tax case was delivered a couple of years ago.

I'm sure that Henke is referring to the result of the appeal. No link as yet but lots of tweets from normally reliable sources that the appeal result was as expected and is in the hands of D&P, Murray and Whyte. I'm sure your renowned detective skills will find these quicker than I can embed them :)

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

That'll be a no then.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

No detective skills or still in denial? ;)

Rangers Tax-Case ‏@rangerstaxcase
Formal release will be within 1-2 weeks at most. Expect leaks & spin before then.

Rangers Tax-Case ‏@rangerstaxcase
FTT decision was signed off at the end of September on schedule and was with both MIH & HMRC yesterday.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Burying your heads in the sand was a huge factor in killing the club you used to support. Don't bother refuting the used to and same club nonsense, cos if it is Charlie Bhoy Green owes the nation 100 million bangers!

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Typical Celtc fans, always more obsessed with their more successful city neighbours.

We'll be having another proper sell out today without having to fiddle the attendance figures.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

:):):) Aye I wish it was us ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Typical fan of the club formerly known as Rangers.

The obsession of the biggest cheating scandal ever in British Football isn't restricted to Celtic fans. Anybody with a sense of what's wrong and right and sporting integrity is interested in seeing those responsilbe held accountable.

How's that march through the lower leagues while making friends along the way going? :D

Chucky Green slagging off Aston Villa during the week.... one of the few clubs to have won the big cup that Rangers died before winning:rolleyes:

Let the title stripping begin :D

2-0 to the hoops is the latest score by the way in today's televised game from the big league.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Ambrose's celebration :D:DTony Watt been outstanding

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Just not the biggest scandal in British football. There are a few major skeletons in the cupboard of other clubs and their activities in the past. :dozey:

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Typical fan of the ex-Rangers. If you spent less time worrying about other matters you might have saved your club.

Died being champions of whitaboutery

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Great game from the Hoops today :)

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

It was Stephen. With the Internationals thankfully out the way we can look forward to this team clicking. Think they are the best since Henrik, Sutty, Big Bad John etc and will improve as we're still a very young side.

Roll on Tuesday, it's only Barca away :shocked:

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Not being a Celtc fan, l think that when they play Barca, They will find out how to play football and get hammered.

And they won't have Scottish official to give them any decisions. As far as l am concerned Scottish football is finished, and with the problems arising with Hearts,what other big club could be going under.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

:D:D:D Thanks, great insight. You got the we may well get hammered bit right and then fell away badly :dozey:

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Sorry but Celtic used to be a powerful side many years ago, but they would not last five minutes in the EPL.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

You're wrong.

Celtic may struggle initially but once they had access to the same resources as the rest of the EPL they would become a force to be reckoned with. They are a far larger Club than the majority of the EPL clubs.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

I would look at Celtic's results against English teams in Europe. London Road is spot on.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

London Road, you must be a Celtic fan. The large majority of PL clubs DON'T want Celtic or Rangers.

Celtic are not as powerful as people reckon, about 15 years ago l followed Celtic, as my wife's family are Celtic fans are mad on them, but they have lost there way and that's why l personally believe that they would last against the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea or Man City.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

No way Celtic could currently compete with Man City or Chelsea but Liverpool are pretty poor just now. The Premiership has 6 to 8 decent sides but it also has a lot of poor sides in it Wigan, QPR, Norwich, Villa etc. Celtic would in my opinion be mid table initially but could challenge for top 6 within 3 years.

Sorry to hear you no longer like Celtic, it must be a great loss ;)

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Erm, Arthur, without Celtic and/or Rangers in the SPL, I doubt very much if it would survive, as the average attendance this year (including Celtic with an average attendance of over 45k) is 9,659 - link....

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

I disagree. The league would have to cut it's cloth to suit but it would still be a very competitive league.

I've made this point before but it is valid. In the years between both old firms achieving 9 in a row, the top league in Scotland was very competitive. Aberdeen and Dundee United won league titles, Aberdeen won European trophies, and Hearts and Hibs regularly challenged for trophies.

Remove Celtic from the equation and the league would be far more competitive every season. The average attendances of the other clubs are likely to increase if they had a realistic chance of winning the league. If you look at the attendances of European Countries outwith the big 4, Scottish clubs are quite well supported.

I'd prefer Celtic to remain in the top league in Scotland and I hope that, in time, somebody comes out of the pack to mount a challenge.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Hi London Road, I have been a football fan all my life and l am now nearly 61. When l was in my twenties, l went to home anad away games in England and Scotland, and both were very strong, Abedreen and Motherwell were very strong sides who couldn't touch Celtic or Rangers, l remember the days of the wee big man Johnson who played for Celtic.

I went to an old firm derby and it was big time football, and l went to Hearts and you could not get a seat in these grounds. Football in Scotland was big and could not be beaten by the English clubs. There was always big support for Scottish football, but sadly now when l see Scottish football, you see so many empty seats, and l believe that clubs now offer discounts to the fans that have hit hard times.

Scottish football at one time was big major stuff, its almost certain that Celtic will win the SPL and Rangers will get promoted.

Please don't get me wrong, football is not as strong as it was in Scotland and the clubs are suffering, and the players would not survive in the pace of EPL.

Thats why l said that if Celtic or any Scottish club would not survive in the EPL due to the pace of the game.

Spurs bought a player many years ago called Jones from a Scottish club and took him and played him alongside Steve Archibald, a Scot and sadly he didn't get to the pace that Tottenham wanted in the old First Division.

I watch for the results each week for Inverness Ally as l have a soft spot for them after watching a documentary on them several years ago, a fan from London flew up to Scotland each week to watch them play each week. (no it wasn't me|)

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Think Celtic have proved with a win away in Moscow a draw against Benfica and a right good go against the best team in the world in their own midden that we would more than hold our own in the Premiership. Very very proud of this very young side and Lenny :)

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Henkeghost, I watched this game and felt they played well, but they were totally outplayed by Barca.

They have got to play better at Parkhead, and even l shouted at the tv when Celtic conceded at the end, Clubs like Celtic cannot allow Barca ANY space as they will puinish them, this is why the are the best club in the world.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Exactly, that along with our other European results over the past couple of seasons have proved we are good enough for the Premiership. Not to win it but to compete. How do you think Wigan, QPR, Reading, Norwich, Villa, Southampton, Stoke etc would cope in the Nou Camp or against Udinese, Rennes, Spartak or Benfica? You think they would cope better? The premiership has some great sides that are way better than Celtic but also a lot of dross. Over hyped. Like you say we were playing what many think are the best club side ever and we coped. We have beaten these other sides recently too along with Milan,Juventus , Man Utd, Liverpool etc in the last few years.

Re: The Scottish Football Thread
 

Celtic are a great side - not as good as bygon years, what l am saying is that they have got to up there game for the return game.

Wigan, Norwich or QPR would get slaughtered against Barca as they are not up to that standard of European football. Barca are the elite in football, like the SAS in the army.